Now that the season of extravagance is over, it’s time to kick back and enjoy some of the little things in life. Match of the day Incense can seem a little overpowering at times, especially in a small room or shared space. So, Hibi’s ...

The traditional Japanese end-of-year “spring clean” is usually when you discover that some of the home’s furnishings are a bit worse for wear. So why not look into some stylish investments now, before you get the broom out for the new year. Dip into ...

“Cozticteocuilatl is the Aztec term for gold and it literally translates into ‘the yellow feces of the gods,’ ” says Swiss artist Otto Kunzli, who is standing before his work at the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum. “It’s the yellow poops of the gods,” ...

It’s undeniable that when designer Jun Takahashi founded Undercover — which celebrates its 25th anniversary with its first retrospective at Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery — he was strongly influenced by the pioneers of deconstruction fashion Rei Kawakubo and Yohji Yamamoto. His first few ...

Promoting Japan’s artisanal history and new design Established in 2005, Tokyo Design Week has done an admirable job of showcasing Japanese creators both major and minor. Unfortunately, this year has been a bit of a let-down from past years’ presentations. Much smaller in scale ...

Seeing both the wood and the trees Moctave’s range of wooden furniture should get any hipster, nature-lover or slow-lifestyle design enthusiast excited. In short, it’s wood porn of the highest quality. Established last November, Moctave locally sources 30 kinds of wood from Gifu Prefecture ...

As you rethink your wardrobe for the autumnal chill, why not smarten up your work style too? From pass cases to ties, here’s a few simple designs with twists. Give in to the fold In the past few years, flatpack designs employing the art ...

As Parisians of the late 19th century reveled in the heady optimism of economic prosperity and enjoyed the innovations spurred by the ongoing Industrial Revolution, Sarah Bernhardt, the most famous actress and muse of the time, became enamored by two trendsetters: Rene Lalique, then ...

If you went to this past weekend’s Maker Faire at Tokyo Big Sight, chances are that all the new ideas — both innovative and kooky — have sparked your own creativity. The timing is good, since there are three upcoming design competitions that are ...